Weapons & Prop Policy

If you plan on bringing a prop, you’ve come to the right place!

These rules are for the safety of those in attendance at Comic Con Honolulu, and to allow those in costume to wear them responsibly at our convention. We enforce the weapons policy to ensure the safety of all those attending Comic Con Honolulu, and we maintain a strict Weapons Policy.

We appreciate the time and effort put into the creation of your costumes, props, and replica weapon/weapon-like items and understand that props and weapons are often a vital part of a character’s costume. However, safety does come first.

Please read and understand Comic Con Honolulu’s weapons policy before using/making any props for your costume. It is imperative that any props, weapons or weapon-like items (called ‘weapons’ from here on forward for simplicity’s sake) comply with Comic Con Honolulu’s Weapons Policy as well as with all local, state, and federal laws. This policy is not a summary of the laws nor does this policy constitute legal advice. You are solely responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable laws.

Inspection

All props and weapons will need to be submitted to the Comic Con Honolulu Security Department for inspection prior to being allowed within the convention area. A weapons inspection desk will be stationed near the primary entrance to the main convention level.

All items must be inspected and will be zip-tied for compliance with this weapon policy. The zip-tie must be visible at all times to indicate that the item has been inspected.

There may be times where a judgement call by the Security Department weapons inspectors will need to be made on the acceptability of a prop or weapon. Please understand that Comic Con Honolulu reserves the right to refuse the entry of any prop or weapon it deems unfit, ill-constructed or unsafe to the convention.

Uncostumed prop/weapon-bearing

All props or weapons must support the overall look the you are currently wearing. Wearing a prop or weapon for its own sake is not allowed. For example: you may not wear regular street clothes and carry a sword or a staff. Now, we understand that there may be anime characters that do wear ‘regular’ street clothes and carry weapons – but if you are ‘costumed’ and you are stopped for violating this rule and you cannot convince security staff that you are cosplaying as ABC from anime XYZ, you may need to rethink your costume (while taking said prop/weapon off and removing it from the convention grounds).

Brandishing

Brandishing is defined as drawing, exhibiting, waving or using any item, prop or weapon in an unsafe manner. Any such display of an item, prop or weapon in an aggressive or threatening manner, real or implied regardless of intent, or any other activity thought to be unsafe is strictly forbidden.

The only exception to the brandishing rule is for photography/videography. For the limited period you are posing and if the area around you is clear of bystanders. You are allowed to pose with an item, prop, or weapon in a brandishing-like manner so long as no reasonable person would interpret the pose as anything but safe and no real threat. However, please exercise great caution when doing so – we want everyone (including yourself) to be safe!

Misuse of a prop or weapon can be considered grounds for removal or ejection from the convention. Anyone brandishing an item, prop, or weapon will be warned and asked to remove said item from the convention grounds. If the individual ignores this warning and / or brings the banned item back, he or she may face membership badge forfeiture and removal from the convention.

Anyone found fighting (real or otherwise) or threatening someone with an item, prop, or weapon will be immediately removed from the convention grounds, and their membership badge confiscated. They may also be turned over to the local authorities as required.

The Directors and Security Staff of Comic Con Honolulu, and the Hawaii Convention Center Security, in their sole and absolute discretion, are empowered to determine whether a particular act constitutes “Brandishing” and its severity.

Edged weapons, metal

No sharpened edged weapons – all metal blades must be blunt

No unsheathed edged weapons – all metal blades must be sheathed

Any edged weapons that cannot be peace-bonded to permanently secure the metal blade within its sheath will not be permitted.

Clubs / blugeoning weapons (including wooden swords)

No rigid metal piping may be used in the construction of any weapon / prop

No brittle construction materials (for example, glass or acrylic sheet) can be used in the construction of any weapon / prop

No ‘sharp’ points – all points must be constructed of non-rigid / soft materials

Keep weight in mind – the bigger an item is, lighter the construction material is required

Miscellaneous weapons

No kunai – all kunai-type weapons regardless of construction material may not be used.

Bows & slingshots – real bows and slingshots may be used, but without bowstrings and propelling tubing

Chains – no metal chains. Short lengths of plastic chain (12″ or less) are acceptable

Whips – whips which are peace-bonded to prevent uncoiling will be permitted.

Guns

No real guns of any type are allowed.

No metal pellet / BB guns are allowed.

No paintball guns are allowed.

Airsoft

All airsoft weapons that have a magazine must have the magazine removed and chamber cleared of any projectiles. If the magazine cannot be removed, the weapon must be empty of projectiles.

Any airsoft weapon that is battery operated must not contain batteries.

Gas-powered airsoft weapons cannot have propellant present in the weapon or magazine.

‘Nerf’-type weapons – allowed as long as no ammunition is present

Waterguns – allowed as long as no liquid is present

All ‘firearms’ must have an orange tip and it must be present on the weapon at all times. When holstered, either the orange tip must be visible through the holster, or the weapon’s zip-tie peace-bond must be visible.

Thank you for reading our weapons policy! With your help, we can make this convention truly amazing!